en Akua

Akua
Gender	Female
Origin
Word/name	Akan people
Meaning	born on a Wednesday
Region of origin	Ashanti; Empire of Ashanti
Other names
Related names	Adwoa (Monday); Abena (Tuesday); Akua (Wednesday); Yaa (Thursday); Afia (Friday); Ama (Saturday); Akosua (Sunday);

Akua is an Akan female given name among the Akan people (i.e. Ashanti, Akuapem, Akyem, Fante) in Ghana that means "born on a Wednesday" in Akan language, following their day naming system.^[1] People born on particular days are supposed to exhibit the characteristics or attributes and philosophy, associated with the days.^[2]^[3]

Origin and meaning

In the Akan culture, day names are known to be derived from deities.^[2]^[3] Akua originated from Wukuada and from the Lord of Life's Sky (heavenly) Host Day deity for Wednesday.^[4] Females born on Wednesday are champions of the cause of others. The name is also associated with a spider (Ananse).^[5]

Female variant

Day names in Ghana have varying spellings. This is so because of the various Akan subgroups.^[2]^[4] Each Akan subgroup has a similar or different spelling for the day name to other Akan subgroups. Akua is spelt Akua by the Akuapem and Ashanti subgroups while the Fante subgroup spell it as Ekua or Kuukua.^[2]

Male version

In the Akan culture and other local cultures in Ghana, day names come in pairs for males and females.^[1] The variant of the name used for a male child born on Wednesday is Kwaku.^[1]^[2]

Notable people named Akua

Akua Sakyiwaa Ahenkorah, Ghanaian diplomat
Akua Anokyewaa (born 1984), Ghanaian footballer
Akua Asabea Ayisi (1927–2010), Ghanaian High Court Judge, journalist and feminist
Akua Sena Dansua (born 1958), Ghanaian media and communications consultant, politician and governance and leadership practitioner
Akua Donkor (1952–2024), Ghanaian politician and the founder and leader of the Ghana Freedom Party
Akua Lezli Hope, African-American artist, poet and writer
Akua Kuenyehia (born 1947), Ghanaian lawyer
Akua Naru, hip hop MC/rapper
Akua Njeri, American writer and activist
Akua Obeng-Akrofi (born 1996), Ghanaian sprinter
Akua Shōma (born 1990), Japanese professional sumo wrestler
Hilda Akua (born 1991), Ghanaian model and beauty pageant titleholder
Ranin Akua ((born 1961/62), member of the Parliament of Nauru
Riddell Akua (born 1963), politician from the Pacific nation of the Republic of Nauru
Thrixeena Akua (born 1994), Nauruan sprinter

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Kamunya, Mercy (2018-10-19). "Akan names and their meanings". Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Agyekum, Kofi Kofi (January 2006). "The Sociolinguistic of Akan Personal Names". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
^ ^a ^b Konadu, Kwasi (2012). "The Calendrical Factor in Akan History". International Journal of African Historical Studies. 45: 217–246.
^ ^a ^b Danso, Vanessa. "The Akan Day Names and Their Embedded Ancient Symbolism". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
^ Aidoo, Kwame. "Everything You Need to Know About the Ghanaian Tradition of Day Names". Culture Trip. Retrieved 2021-04-05.

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[:3-1] Kamunya, Mercy (2018-10-19). "Akan names and their meanings". Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. Retrieved 2021-04-04.

[:0-2] Agyekum, Kofi Kofi (January 2006). "The Sociolinguistic of Akan Personal Names". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2021-04-04.

[:1-3] Konadu, Kwasi (2012). "The Calendrical Factor in Akan History". International Journal of African Historical Studies. 45: 217–246.

[:2-4] Danso, Vanessa. "The Akan Day Names and Their Embedded Ancient Symbolism". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2021-04-04.

[5] Aidoo, Kwame. "Everything You Need to Know About the Ghanaian Tradition of Day Names". Culture Trip. Retrieved 2021-04-05.

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